There were only four mondays this month. Why does it feel like double that number? There’s a reason they call these the dog days of summer. If you jump down that particular rabbit hole, you will learn that the ancient Romans (or was it the Greeks? Or Sumarians? Some ancient civilization anyway…) named the star that was closest (thus most visible) to Earth Sirius. And no, not for the Harry Potter character. Sirius–the star, not the character–is part of the Canis Major constellaton. Yes, that does translate to “Big Dog.” And no, I am NOT singing “Who Let the Dogs Out.” … Much. Anyway, this time of year, Sirius rises and sets with the Sun. Hence, the dogs days of summer. However, down here in the south/southwest, it’s the dog days of summer because it’s too hot for them dogs t’hunt. Just sayin’…

Why yes, I have had my coffee this morning. Why do you ask?

I am up to my elbows and chinny-chin-chin in Wolves at the moment. I don’t know if I’ll make the Labor Day deadline I set for myself to have this puppy finished and extra “drafted” ready to send out to beta readers. It’ll be close. I hope. I’m on Chapter 40, lots of $h!+ is going down, and I’m over 125K words. Considering most of my books are 40-50K, this is like writing WAR AND PEACE. And yes, I HAVE read that sucker, thank you very much. Honors high school literature. Ugh! Anyway, I’m making progress and the end is mostly in sight but I’ve got all this notes on my white board to go back and check once I hit The End. Still, the Boston Woves will be running the street at some point this Fall. Sadly, though, it means I’ll likely only get one book out this year. Which sucks for you, my readers, and for my bank account. *SIGH* 😔

There was soccer on Saturday. Stormy played well though his team lost 5-3. They were playing the #1 team in the academy (which has played together for at least a year) so there’s some consolilation. The weather was warm but with a cool breeze and hazy clouds. Jake abandoned me for the Dog Whisperer who sat next to us, ie. another teammate’s grandfather. His wife called him the Dog Whisperer. It was funny and cute.

I’m currently listening to a book that’s gotten a lot of hype from various playces. THE LOST STORY by Meg Shaffer is an odd book that is sort of a grown-up “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe” with an overlay of “The Princess Bride.” It’s for grown-ups. Of course, my religions professor in college also said the the Narnia books were actually written for grown-ups but disguished as children’s books so grown-ups would read them aloud to their kids. Anyway, y’all might give it a look-see. Normally, books that have a lot of press and push are not my reading catnip but this one is…it’s different and odd and a bit sweet and…I’m enjoying it.

Not much else going on. I’ve been trying to not scurry down rabbit holes, get lost in mindless computer “shooter” games (Bubble Shooter is my current timewaster), or just sit and veg to something on the TV. WIP. Front and center! So that’s my main focus. That and coffee. Of which I need more so I’ll stop here, grab my next cup and get back to work. What are you working on today?